Jimmy Page Gives Surprise Performance In Seattle

Entertainment

Posted on November 23, 2015

It had been a long time since he rocked and rolled, but Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page returned to the stage Thursday to give a surprise performance at the end of an all-star charity event honoring him at the EMP Museum in Seattle.

The guitar legend was presented with the 2015 EMP Founders Award at the event, which according to Rolling Stone, featured a variety of rock stars performing Led Zeppelin tunes and songs from Page's other musical projects.

The website reports Page had insisted he wasn't going to perform at the show, but he wound up hitting the stage and jamming out on a version of Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" with the evening's impressive cast.

Among the well-known musicians who took part in the event and in the jam were Jimmy's one-time The Firm band mate Paul Rodgers, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, ex-Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson, Soundgarden's Kim Thayil, Tesla's Brian Wheat, and Alice in Chains members Jerry Cantrell and William Duvall.

You can check out fan-filmed footage of the all-star jam at YouTube.

The EMP Founders Award is bestowed on artists who have made a significant impact on the world through their music. In accepting the honor, Page noted that his goal for the music he created went beyond "the spark to be able to play and make that into a career. You need to pass the baton to the young people." Previous honorees include Crosby, Stills & Nash, Carlos Santana and Jackson Browne.

The concert featured the various guest artists performing in different combinations, with a house band that included McKagan and ex-Screaming Trees drummer Barrett Martin. While most of the songs came from the Led Zeppelin catalog, Nielsen -- joined by veteran rock singer John Hogg -- performed The Yardbirds' "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," and Rodgers belted out two tunes by The Firm, "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Radioactive."

In addition to all the aforementioned rock stars, Microsoft co-founder and rock-music aficionado Paul Allen who also founded the EMP Museum -- took part in the finale as well. Besides the performances, special video messages from Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready were played during the bash.